Description
Enjoy the delicious blend of flavors in our Easy Stuffed Pepper Pasta Bake. This dish combines rotini pasta, seasoned ground beef, and vibrant bell peppers for a comfort food experience that is simple to prepare and ideal for busy weeknights. A wonderful choice for families searching for hearty, home-cooked meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz uncooked rotini pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 1 green bell pepper roughly chopped
- 1 orange bell pepper roughly chopped
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 14.5 oz can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 1 tsp italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 cup monterey jack cheese shredded
- optional: fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and bell peppers, cover, and cook for 5–7 minutes until softened.
- Stir in tomato paste and minced garlic, cover, and cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart as it cooks. Cover and cook for 7–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fully cooked. Drain any excess grease.
- Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, then stir well.
- Pour in tomato sauce and fire-roasted tomatoes, stirring again, and let simmer for 3–5 minutes.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until evenly coated.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Broil for 30 seconds to 1 minute to lightly brown the top; keep a close eye to avoid burning.
- Remove from the oven, let cool for a few minutes, garnish with parsley if desired, then serve.
Notes
Feel free to use ground turkey for a leaner option.
You can substitute with any type of shredded cheese you prefer.
For added flavor, consider mixing in some spinach or mushrooms.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg